Optical connector for jacketed cables

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9389370-B2
Application number	US-201414206839-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2014
Priority date	Mar 21, 2013
Publication date	Jul 12, 2016
Grant date	Jul 12, 2016

Abstract

An optical connector for terminating a jacketed optical fiber cable comprises a housing configured to mate with a receptacle. The connector also includes a collar body disposed in the housing, the collar body securing, at a first end, a ferrule. The collar body includes a gripping mechanism disposed in a second portion of the collar body. The collar body further includes a buffer clamp configured within a third portion of the collar body, the buffer clamp configured to clamp at least a portion of a buffer cladding of the optical fiber upon actuation. The optical connector also includes a backbone to retain the collar body within the housing. The backbone includes a mounting structure surrounding a central bore at one end of the backbone, the mounting structure having at least one pocket region configured to receive a slit portion of the cable jacket. A fiber connector termination and assembly tool is also provided.

First claim

We claim:

1. An optical connector for terminating a jacketed optical fiber cable containing an optical fiber, the jacketed cable including a jacket, comprising:
a housing configured to mate with a receptacle;
a collar body disposed in the housing, the collar body securing, at a first end, a ferrule, wherein the collar body includes a gripping mechanism disposed in a second portion of the collar body, and wherein the collar body further includes a buffer clamp configured within a third portion of the collar body, the buffer clamp configured to clamp at least a portion of a buffer cladding of the optical fiber upon actuation;
a backbone to retain the collar body within the housing, the backbone including a mounting structure surrounding a central bore at one end of the backbone, the mounting structure having at least one pocket region configured to receive a slit portion of the cable jacket;
a fiber boot configured to engage with the mounting structure and to secure the slit portion of the cable jacket to the mounting structure of the backbone; and
wherein the mounting structure includes at least two pocket regions to receive slit jacket portions, each pocket region including one or more raised surfaces to further secure the slit jacket portions within the mounting structure when the boot is threaded onto the mounting structure.

2. The optical connector of claim 1 , wherein the boot includes a nut portion having a threaded portion configured to engage outer threads formed on the mounting structure.

3. The optical connector of claim 2 , wherein the fiber boot further comprises a tail section to restrict a lateral motion of the fiber cable.

4. The optical connector of claim 1 , wherein the mounting structure includes a flattened shelf configured to receive strength members of the optical fiber cable and prevent the strength members from twisting when the boot is mounted onto the mounting section.

5. The optical connector of claim 3 , wherein the nut portion and tail section are separate elements.

6. The optical connector of claim 1 , further comprising a buffer clamp actuation sleeve configured to be received on an outer surface of the third portion of the collar body and configured to slidably actuate the buffer clamp.

7. The optical connector of claim 1 , wherein the optical connector is configured to mate with an SC receptacle.

8. The optical connector of claim 1 , wherein the gripping mechanism comprises a gripping element and at least one actuating cap.

9. The optical connector of claim 1 , wherein the buffer clamp comprises a dual-tab structure formed within the third portion and having a portion thereof extending outside an outer surface of the third portion that is collapsible upon actuation.

10. The optical connector of claim 1 , wherein fiber jacket has an outer diameter of about 3 mm or less.

11. The optical connector of claim 1 , wherein fiber jacket has an outer diameter of about 1.6 mm.

12. The optical connector of claim 1 , wherein the fiber boot and mounting structure can secure jacket portions from optical fiber cable jackets ranging from 1.5 mm to 3.0 mm in outer diameter.

13. The optical connector of claim 4 , wherein the strength members are held strongly within the optical connector enough to withstand an axial pull force of at least 10 pounds-force.

14. The optical connector of claim 13 , wherein at least a substantial portion of the strength members are secured between outer threads of the mounting structure and inner threads of a nut portion of the boot.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Pratt Jerome A
• Pepin Ronald P
• Sawicki Joseph C
• Ball Shirley E
• Raider Wesley A
• Larson Donald K

Classifications

• G02B6/3898

  Tools, e.g. handheld; Tuning wrenches; Jigs used with connectors, e.g. for extracting, removing or inserting in a panel, for engaging or coupling connectors, for assembling or disassembling components within the connector, for applying clips to hold two connectors together or for crimping (tools for cleaning, G02B6/3866; tools in general B25B) · CPC title

• G02B6/3846

  with fibre stubs · CPC title

• G02B6/3887

  Anchoring optical cables to connector housings, e.g. strain relief features · CPC title

• G02B6/3857 Primary

  Crimping, i.e. involving plastic deformation · CPC title

• G02B6/3888

  Protection from over-extension or over-compression · CPC title